Well casing cleaning device



Sept. 6, 1932. H. B. BRALY WELL CASING CLEANING DEVICE Filed Feb. 27, 1931 Inventor A Home y Patented Sept. 6, 1932 PATENT OFFICE.

HOMER BENJAMIN BRALY, NARDIN, OKLAHOMA.

WELL CASING GLEAmmu DEVICE Application filed February 27, 1931. Serial No. 518,843.

This invention relates to a device which is expressly, but not necessarily, adapted for conveniently and expeditiously removing parafii'ne settlement from the interior of a well casing.

It is a matter of common knowledge that paraifine deposits in film and coating formation on the interior of the wall of a well casing, and sometimes becomes so thick as to m restrict the discharge of fluid from the well thus impeding and slowing up the work considerably.- Various means and appliances have been devised for removing parafline.

The present invention relates to a device which is susceptible of convenient and dependable usage in extracting parafline deposits from the well casing in a practical, simple, and economical manner.

\ The novelty is predicated upon a simple 2o eflicient and feasible type of tool or implement which is capable of ready insertion and removal, and characterized by a novel arrangement of mechanical parts closely allied and co-operating in such a manner as to perform this otherwise unreliable task in a more satisfactory and acceptable manner.

Other features and alvantages will become more readily apparent from the followin description and drawing:

Fi re 1 is a view in section and elevation showlng the position of parts with the tool set ready for extracting a load of parafiine.

' Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the tiltable follower disc in its canted position which position is assumed in inserting the tool for operation.

The entire ensembleis depicted in Figure 1, wherein it will be observed that the conventional well casing is designated by the numeral 7. The wax film or coating is indicated by dotted lines and by the numeral 8. The improved tool shaft is designated generally by the numeral 9. This shaft is square in cross section and provided on its upper end with a screw-threaded end 10 for connection to the hoisting and lowering mechanism (not shown).

.The lower end is also screw-threaded as indicated at,11 to accommodate an internally screw-threaded coupling sleeve 12 designed to permit multiplication or duplication of these devices. Incidentl it is permissable to employ one or more 0 theseparaifine extracting devices at the same time.

This screw-threaded end 11 is reduced to form a shoulder as at 13 and this shoulder and screw-threaded portion accommodates a pyramidal stop 14. This part 14 is held in place b a retaining nut. 15. The reduced pyrami al portion of this detail 14 is designed to fit into the rectangular openings formed in the center of the disc 17 when 1n the position represented in Figure 1.

The opposite ends of the openings are rounded 01f to provide cam surfaces as shown 55 in Fi re 1. The intermediate or central portion of the shaft 9 is of peculiar configuration. Beginning at the points 20 and 21, I form a pair of oppositely extending curvate portions to define an off-set at 22 and a longitudinally disposed curviture surface at 23. This arrangement provides a sort of seat at 24, and opposite to this seat and slightly be low it is an outstanding lug 25. This arrangement allows the disc 17 to be disposed 76 in the canted or inclined position represented in Figure 2 which is the position that it takes when inserting the disc down into the casing.

- ()n the upper end of the rod or shaft is a collar 26'held in' place by set screws 27 and so provided .,with an outstanding retaining flange 28 for holding in place an abutment annulus or plate 29. There is also a clam ing ring at 30 so as to keep these parts n assembled position such as represented in Figure 1.

The operation of the device is as follows: As the device islowered in the casing 7, when the plate 17 comes incontact with the parafiine 8 in the casing, the plate stops.

The shaft 9however continues downward beyond the disc or plate 17. When the shaft 9 reaches the position shown in Figure 2, the lug 25 comes in contact with the disc 17 somewhat to the side of its center. Due to the peculiar cam co-action be tween the curved end walls of the opening in the disc and the curvate portion 23, the disc 17 is forced upward by the pressure of the paraffine, the -disc 17 following, down the curved edge 23, using the lug 25 as a fulcrum. It is thus caused to swing to the inclined position represented in Figure 2. The disc 17 now being in a somewhat vertical position now moves downward, with the shaft 9, cutting its way through the paraffine. The shaft and disc 17 move downward as a unit and continue to do so until the stop plate 29 comes into contact with the parafline. The device is now ready to take a full bite or load of parafline to permit it to be extracted.

As the shaft 9 starts to move upward, the sloping portions 20 and 23 move into contact with the disc causing it to swing laterally with respect to the axis of the shaft. The friction of the paraffine and the peculiar design of the shaft causes the plate 17 to swing to a horizontal position,-where it remains stationary while the shaft 9 continues tomove upward. When the shaft reaches the position shown in Figurel, the

pyramidal projection 14: enters the slot 16. Thus, the two plates or discs 17 and 29 are then coupled to the shaft and as it is withdrawn by the customary hoisting mechanism, the parafline 8 located between these discs is pocketed and extracted from the casing as the tool goes out.

This tool could be used connected in a string of rods in a pumping well, but when so used it is absolutely necessary that the abutment plate be removed as its use under these conditions would interfere with the lifting or pumping of the oil. However, the

disc plays up and down on the shaft and does not interfere with pumping in any way whatsoever. 1

When it is desired to clean the well, all that is necessary is simply to pull the rods and each device carrying its own load of accumulated paraffine will clean the well in one operation, The tools when used in this manner are placed at intervals of seventyfive feet.

As a matter of fact, the abutment plate 29 is only used when accumulation of parafiine is allowed to collect on the wall of the casing until deposits are very heavy. The rods are then pulled preparatory to cleaning the well. The device is then used as a single unit connected into the rods and lowered in the casing. The abutment plate is then used to feel ones way and determine the amount of paraffine that can be removed at one time.

of the tool itself, but also moved on up on the rods to the desired distance, after the proper load is determined that can be taken at a time, the plate is set to the rods or tool and determines the load that can be taken at a time. A careful operator need not use the plate at all as it is merely used to prevent overloading of the tool or rods. In fact, the reason that I have incorporated this stop device in my invention is because this device, 'asno other known to my knowledge, descends downwardly through the parafline under the weight of the tools without any resistance whatsoever and if the stop plate is not used, or the operator very careful, the tool might descend so far as to take an overload of paraifine and thus tax the strength of the rods.

However, any operator who is familiar with this type of work need not even use the abutment plate at all; its use nevertheless is practical and would be used by those who would choose to extract a uniform load of paraffineat a time. i

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawing will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes com ing within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

1. A device for removingparafline from a. well casing comprising a shaft adapted to be inserted in the casing, a plate having an opening therein through which the shaft passes, the intermediate portion of said shaft being provided with oppositely and laterally oflset portions defining a seat on one side, a lug on the opposite side, said lug engaging the plate on the downward movement of the shaft, after movement of the plate has been stopped by its engagement with the paraifine in the casing, whereby said lug will move the plate into a position more nearly vertical than horizontal to cause an edge-wall of the opening in the plate to engage the seat so that as the plate moves downwardly with the shaft it will cut its way through the paraffine, and

1a stopon the lower end of the shaft adapted inserted in the casing, a plate having an opening therein through which the shaft passes, the intermediate portion of said shaft being provided wlth oppositely and laterally offset portions defining a seat on one side, a lug on the opposite side, said lug engaging the plate on the downward movement of the shaft after movement of the plate has been stopped by its engagement with the parafline in the easing whereby said lug will move the plate into a position more nearly vertical than horizontal to cause an edge wall of the opening in the plate to engage the seat so that as the plate moves downwardly with the shaft it will cut its way through the parafline, a stop on the lower end of the shaft adapted to engage the plate upon upward movement of the shaft to cause the said plate to assume a horizontal position to remove the paraifine as the shaft and plate are moved upwardly, and a stop plate on the upper end of the shaft for engaging the top part of the accumulations of parafiine as the shaft moves downwardly for a) limiting the downward movement of the shaft.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HOMER BENJAMIN BRALY. 

